S4 E19 Everypony! Leap of Faith is up next!
...
While coming home from his usual shopping in the Ponyville market, Malibu spotted Sweetie Belle coming over to him.
"Mal! Malibu!"
He waved her over with a grin, the white filly unicorn holding a piece of paper in her mouth. "Hey Sweetie Belle, what's going on?"
Sweetie Belle put the paper on the ground which had what looked like some kind of play. "I'm starring and writing my own play, and I was hoping you will be at the show tonight?"
The teal alicorn was surprised but happy about how much she had stepped up into doing stuff by herself. He wound up nodding. "Sure, it should be cool watching you guys in the play."
Sweetie smiles. "Play is at 5:30, see you there tonight!" She says, running off to get Rarity to make the costumes. Malibu picked up the paper with his magic, seeing that all of the CMCs were going to be in the show. Knowing he can't miss this one.
...
Later that evening, Malibu managed to make it to the theater. He looked around, wondering where the rest of his friends were.
He only could see Spike sitting down in the front and went to join him. "Hey, Spike, where are the others?"
Spike looks a bit down. "They couldn't really come, they're helping Rarity make outfits for Sapphire Shores. But I'm glad you're here to watch them."
Malibu grins. "Of course. The CMCs are my best friends. I wouldn't let down Sweetie Belle."
The baby dragon looks happy from his words as the two turned to the stage; which had the curtains be pulled back to reveal the CMCs wearing their outfits. Malibu was startled by how fancy they were, wondering if Sweetie Belle had really designed them to look like that.
The play had gone on for some time, Malibu slightly enjoying it though he figured the writing could use some improvement. He was a bit too distracted by the shiny outfits as was everyone else who had clapped mostly for that.
Malibu got up once the play was over, heading to backstage to greet his little friends. Sweetie Belle saw him, her outfit a white and lilac laced dress. She gave him a smile, hugging. "I'm so glad you made it! We also have this awesome party to do as well!"
Applebloom nods. "This must be like a dream come true for you, huh, Sweetie Belle?"
Scootaloo flaps her wings. "Ooh, can you imagine if this show was how you got your cutie mark?"
Malibu chuckled at that thought, not sure if it would really happy but it was nice to see them have dreams like that. He saw Sweetie Belle give a deep breath. "Let's not get carried away. We've got a whole lobby full of friends waiting to shower us with adoration and praise. Try to be gracious."
Scootaloo put her hooves together. "Modest."
Applebloom smiles. "Classy."
"No matter what happens, I'm still glad you were able to do something like this, Sweetie Belle. It really shows how much you've grown since we've first met." Malibu praises her, making Sweetie Belle flush.
They all soon went out into the lobby where the audience was having some light snacks and punch. "Here we are, the stars of the show!" Sweetie Belle exclaims.
Scootaloo keeps smiling. "Line forms here!"
Spike had come up, handing Malibu a glass of punch which he took. "Wow, you guys! I think your sisters would have loved it!"
Applebloom raised her brow, Malibu knowing they were in for disappointment. "Would have?"
The baby dragon's ears fell. "They're sorry, but they had to go help Rarity get Sapphire Shores' wardrobe ready to take to Canterlot in the morning."
Scootaloo's ears were even more flat. "Even Rainbow Dash?" She asked in fear and sadness.
Malibu felt himself flinch up before nodding. "Yeah. I didn't even see her in the crowd."
Spike nods. "Rarity fell way behind."
The CMCs all awed together, until Sweetie Belle had a smile. "At least every pony else who was able to stay loved it."
Malibu watched the trio go around asking every pony there about the play but most of the time all they said was that the dresses were the best part, wondering if they even watched the show, his heart twinging for Sweetie Belle.
All of this made Sweetie Belle growl softly. "Isn't there anypony here who remembers anything about the play besides the dresses?!"
The rest of the crowd began to mutter excuses, which made Sweetie Belle pretty much break, groaning out of frustration.
She begins to storm out of the lobby carrying the dresses, Malibu running after her, knowing this wasn't going to go well for Rarity.
They soon arrived at Carousel Boutique where Malibu attempted talking to her. "S-Sweetie Belle, maybe you should cool off first before—."
He was too late as Sweetie slams the door open, throwing the dresses down on the floor in her anger. Malibu winced, smiling sheepishly at his other friends who all turned about in surprise.
Rarity looked worried. "Whatever's the matter, Sweetie Belle? Didn't the play go alright?"
Sweetie Belle huffed. "Not even close!"
The white unicorn gasped lightly. "Oh, dear. Was something amiss with the dresses I made you?"
That caused Sweetie Belle to roll her eyes. "No, they were perfect! And that was the whole problem!" She shouted.
Malibu flushed from feeling awkward, Rainbow Dash and the others raising their brows. "Huh?"
Fluttershy laughs nervously. "Oh, um, I think maybe I'll go take that moment to relax now."
Rainbow Dash nods. "Heh, sure do feel like relaxin'!" She said, taking Malibu with her by his hoof.
"Right behind ya!" AJ exclaimed, as they closed the door.
Malibu felt everypony's eyes on him. "What exactly happened?" Rainbow Dash questioned once out of earshot of the two sisters.
The teal alicorn swallowed before answering. "Uh... Sweetie Belle I think... felt like her play was wasted because none of you except me and Spike showed up, and that Rarity made the dresses too distracting." He said, grinning in awkwardness.
Before the others could ask him more questions, the door opened again revealing Spike. He was out of breath because of a letter about to come out. "Oh, g-guys. I... have a..." He soon belched, green flames coming including a letter.
Malibu caught it with his magic, opening it up, wondering what could be the trouble now. He read through it, his eyes rounding. "I-It's from Aunt Luna. She wants me back in Canterlot for another lesson." He gasps aloud, some excitement stirring in him. It was possible it was for another dream realm lesson.
Twilight looked excited for him. "Well, then, you should get going. We'll stay here and help with Rarity." She stated, a hoof on his shoulder. Malibu grins, going back to Sweet Apple Acres to pack up his things for the Canterlot trip.
He then flew as fast as possible to get to the castle, running through the door, slightly out of breath when seeing Luna there waiting for him along with Celestia, both of them smiling.
"Hi mom, hi Aunt Luna, I got your message." Malibu greets with his own grin.
Celestia gives Malibu her motherly hugs. "It is always good to see you my son."
Luna soon leads Malibu to the balcony where she glances over to him. "I hope you are ready to venture into the dream realm once again nephew." She says, a hoof under Malibu's chin who smiled at his aunt. "For sure! I-I just hope we don't run into any creepy nightmares." He said with a shy gaze.
It made the other alicorn chuckle. "In my work, I have to face them nearly every day. Now, concentrate."
Malibu nods, igniting his horn, doing his best to cast the dream realm spell soon, he felt his body floating, and his eyes widened at the sight of the dream bubbles floating around him. "Whoa, I did it again!"
Luna smiled proudly as the two of them went around, seeing that most of the dreams were happy but then Malibu heard the familiar voice of Sweetie Belle. "Stop! Why do you ruin everything?!"
His eyes fell on a dream bubble revealing an evil Rarity cloud about to zap Sweetie Belle. Luna uses her magic to transport them into the dream, firing upon the Rarity cloud. "Enough!" She roared.
The teal alicorn saw the Rarity cloud give out a whimper and fade away, Sweetie Belle glancing up at the sight of her savior, recognizing both Luna and Malibu. She had heard from Scootaloo about being visited by them too, excited that it was now possibly her turn.
"Princess Luna! Mal! It's really the both of you! Or am I dreaming?"
It made Malibu roll his eyes playfully, him and Luna landing in front of her. "Uh, you think?" He asked.
Sweetie Belle thought for a minute. "Let me see, you both just rescued me from a maniacal laughing Rarity-cloud. Yeah, probably dreaming." Malibu smiles, ruffling Sweetie Belle's head which made her giggle.
Luna then had something to say. "I understand what you're going through, Sweetie Belle. I too have a sister who often shines more brightly than me, and with this, I have struggled."
Malibu's heart panged for Sweetie Belle, knowing that she was rather mad at Rarity for supposedly 'stealing the spotlight from her little sister until Luna beckoned him to follow. Glancing back at Sweetie Belle for a moment, he trots in her wake.
Sweetie Belle reaches out with her hoof. "Wait, come back! Luna? Can you hear me? Thank you for what you did!"
The former gargoyle watched Luna use her magic to alter the dream and create what looked like the inside of Carousel Boutique back when Sweetie Belle was 5. Malibu felt Sweetie Belle collapse on the ground next to her, as he watched it all unfold.
Sweetie Belle couldn't help but smile. "I remember this; this was my fifth birthday party!"
Luna remained silent while Malibu smiles at the sight of baby Sweetie Belle. "You sure were pretty cute." He said, making her flush while the three watched baby Sweetie Belle dressing up.
"I decided to make a grand entrance. I made myself all beautiful, just like my big sister." Sweetie Belle explained, her younger self getting up after putting on lipstick, dong a small trip before going towards the stairs, looking proud. "Finally, I was perfect, and then went to the stairs to enter like the belle of the ball. When I finally came out of my room, I found the party going on without me."
Malibu's eyes gazed down at the other foals all cheering while Rarity was there with the box of party favors. "And I kept posing at the top of the stairs, waiting to be noticed, but..." Sweetie Belle had trailed off, Malibu hearing one of the other foals saying "These party favors are the coolest!" He blew a party horn.
A filly smiles at Rarity. "Awesome! Where did you get these?"
Rarity blushes. "Made them myself. And of course, you'll all want cake, won't you?" She lifts up a chocolate cake with pink icing. It made Malibu's stomach growl, wanting cake now which made him also blush in front of Luna and Sweetie Belle who both chuckled at him.
"You're the greatest, Rarity!" Another filly said in a worshipping styled voice.
The first colt scoffs. "Who needs a birthday girl when you've got the birthday girl's big sister!"
Malibu looked over to young Sweetie Belle who heard that and started crying, running back upstairs. The scene next showed her crying on the bed.
Sweetie Belle's ears lowered. "That's when I learned never try to shine with my big sister around." She said sadly.
"Uh, maybe... maybe you hadn't seen the entire scene before the foal said 'these party favors are the coolest'." Malibu pointed out, making her look at him in confusion. "Yes, you probably didn't have the whole story," Luna adds.
Sweetie tilted her head. "I thought you said you understood?" Luna was silent for a while along with Malibu. "Guys?"
Luna stomps her hoof, the scene whooshing around the three, Malibu blinking as he saw a different scene from what he saw before, the foals all lying around, looking bored. "Where's Sweetie Belle?"
Rarity laughs from the side. "I'm sure she'll be along at any moment."
Malibu watched the filly yawn, getting up. "I'm tired of waiting, I say we get out of here before we all kneel over from boredom." She was about to leave. "Poor Sweetie Belle. Nopony's gonna come to another one of her parties after this fiasco." The filly stated, making Malibu glare slightly, hating that Sweetie Belle's supposed 'friends' were willing to ditch her on her birthday.
But to his surprise, Rarity had suddenly held out her hoof in front of them. "Don't go! You'll miss out on the... party favors." She uses her magic to teleport the box in front of the colts who looked up at her in confusion. "I was going to save them 'till the end, but..." Rarity sighed, making Malibu appreciate her generous spirit even further, happy she wanted to save the party.
She handed over a party horn to the filly who blew it before. "These party favors are the coolest!"
"Awesome, where'd you get these?"
Rarity smiles again. "Made them myself. And of course, you'll all want cake, won't you?" Malibu looked to Sweetie Belle who was stunned from this moment.
"Who needs a birthday girl when you got the birthday girl's amazing big sister?"
The three looked up to see young Sweetie Belle sniffle, running upstairs. She had come downstairs a little too late.
Rarity shakes her head. "Oh, no-no-no. All of these things were Sweetie Belle's idea. I just assisted with the execution."
Malibu looked down towards Sweetie Belle whose face faltered from those words. "I-I guess Rarity wasn't trying to steal the spotlight. She was trying to save my party."
The teal alicorn nods at her until Luna starts teleporting into a different part of the dream, Sweetie Belle noticing as Malibu follows his aunt. "Guys, wait!" Sweetie shouts as she finds herself falling into water though able to breathe. She sees a pair of dolphins swim by her, floating down to the ground.
Luna and Malibu appeared beside Sweetie Belle, back in Rarity's room who was looking over her dresses in a frantic way. "Should I hem them now, or wait until I'm there? I can hem them now. But I might have to redo them..."
Sweetie Belle looked up at Malibu and Luna. "When was this?"
Rarity paced back and forth, Malibu feeling rather sorry for his friend, wishing he could comfort her but knew this was only a vision. "But if I wait until I'm in Canterlot to hem them, Sapphire Shores might not get the best first impression..."
Sweetie Belle gasped in fear. "Wait. This must've happened earlier tonight!" Hearing that made Malibu roll his eyes, but knew Sweetie was still a kid, so he could give her a pass.
Rarity kept on panicking. "Ooh... Sapphire Shores is such a big star and such a stickler for details. What if everything's not perfect enough?"
Her little sister's ears lowered. "Funny, I thought I was the only one who got worried about stuff like that." Malibu smiled gently at her. "That happens to me sometimes too, especially whenever I struggle to impress Rainbow Dash he said, making Sweetie giggle a little, Luna smiling from that joke.
The white unicorn huffed to herself. "Oh, buck up, Rarity. Stop this foolishness. You've done your best and left nothing to chance!" She began to climb into her four poster. "All that's needed now is a good night's rest." Rarity turns off the light, beginning to snore softly.
Sweetie Belle's face fell once more, looking up at Luna. "I hope everything goes alright for her tomorrow." She said, her heart thumping.
Luna frowned. "Hm. How curious you should say that." Malibu was confused since he never saw Sweetie Belle taking apart the headpiece of the main dress, watching Luna opening another dream door. "Go. Go and see what the future holds if you don't rein in your worst instincts. As I once did."
Malibu's nerves pricked while watching Sweetie going through, wanting to follow but Luna held him back, shaking her head. "Sweetie Belle must face this future vision on her own." She said gravely, her magic turning on the vision of the future but ensuring Sweetie didn't see them. The former gargoyle hoped it wouldn't traumatize his friend so much.
From what he saw, Sweeite Belle was crying out at her sister to stop bringing out the main headpiece for Sapphire's dress but was stuck in the floor. She gasped as Rarity lifted it out, placing it on Sapphire's head.
The headpiece fell apart, Malibu's eyes widening in horror for Rarity who gasped. "Oh, the headdress!"
Sapphire eyed Rarity in disappointment. "Looks like I made a mistake here."
Rarity trembled, holding her ruined creation. "But, but this is impossible! I, I, I checked and rechecked everything! This couldn't have happened!"
Malibu saw Sapphire keeping up her frown. "You sure about that, honey?" She asked almost mockingly. Malibu knew this was a dream but he hated how Sapphire was treating Rarity, trying to reach out but his hoof hit against the image, not allowing him through.
"Listen to my sister!" Sweetie Belle screamed, but she was too late as the other ponies laughed there in the room, the dream sequence now spinning rapidly into a now swelling nightmare. Malibu's ears flattened from the gruesome image of Sweetie Belle running into a crying Rarity's mouth, screaming and falling down the throat. "I don't wanna see anymore!" She wailed, more images showing.
Malibu looked to Luna whose magic was revealing more images of Rarity's bad future. "L-Luna, t-this might be a tad excessive." He said shakily, seeing a vision of one of Sapphire's gatherings. "Who all wants to hear a funny story about my ex-costume designer?"
Luna's magic then brought out a vision of Rarity all depleted, looking panicked all the time. "Check, recheck, recheck, then recheck!"
Sweetie Belle shut her eyes. "Make it stop! Princess Luna, Malibu, can't you hear me?!"
Malibu swallowed, wanting to stop the dream, his horn beginning to light up but heard his aunt. "No. Just a little longer my nephew, then we'll stop."
The teal alicorn reluctantly obeyed, watching a vision ofFluttershy knocking on the door to Carousel Boutique. "Make me a dress Rarity? Please?"
Rarity opened the door, all frazzled and crazy eyed. "Go away! You know I don't do that anymore!" She slammed the door, the vision switching to her eye twitching, curling on the floor in her unkempt boutique.
"Wake me up, Princess Luna and Malibu! Wake me up! Wake me up!" Sweetie Belle screamed, Malibu now being allowed to do so, the vision clearing and finding himself back in Luna's room.
Luna gave Malibu a gentle smile, a wing around him. "You did well my nephew. I know it was hard with those nightmares on your friend but now she will go and make up with her sister."
Malibu trembled all over, sitting down on the floor. "I-If you say so..." He said shakily, rubbing his face weakly.
She took his hoof. "Come, let us find Sweetie Belle. She shall be in Canterlot very soon. And Rarity is here right now."
Malibu follows in his aunt's wake, the two of them managing to arrive at the entrance to the studio where Sapphire Shores was doing rehearsals.
He was confused at what they were gonna be waiting for but Luna gives him a light wink, right as the door slammed open, revealing none other than Sweetie Belle holding a box on her head, dropping it to the floor, panting and shutting the door tight.
Sweetie Belle spotted Luna and Malibu nearby, and a look of relief showed on her muzzle, slumping against the box. "Oh, good, it's just a dream!" She moaned.
It caused Malibu to smirk and shake his head, nearly laughing despite her current situation. "Nope." He said in his snarky manner. "Yes, this is very much real." Luna said as well, giving a final confirmation.
Sweetie Belle gives out a little groan of disappointment. "Oh, Luna, Mal... I wish none of this ever happened... what am I gonna do?"
Luna pulled out a needle she had taken from her room before they left. "Let's begin with this. And I think I know how you can even improve it."
Malibu saw that they were gonna fix the headdress, sitting down and watching the two of them working on it, even adding what looked like a dolphin as the symbol instead.
After that, Malibu went over to give Sweetie Belle a hug of encouragement. "It will be alright, Sweetie Belle. Rarity will forgive you." He said gently.
Sweetie Belle sniffled from his kind words, wiping her eyes, and taking a breath, going through the door. Malibu and Luna watched from a hiding spot.
Rarity managed to catch her sister, eyes narrowed. "I would like to know what in the wide, wide, realm of Equestria this stunt of yours is all about, and I want to know now!" She demanded, stomping her hoof, Malibu flinching. Rarity could still be scary at times. "Do you have any idea how important this job is to me?"
Sweetie Belle smiled nervously. "Actually, I do. I was upset at you for ruining my spotlight from me at the play, so I pulled out the center stitch to the headpiece so it would fall apart."
The white purple haired unicorn gasped. "What?!"
Her sister continued. "But then I realized I didn't want your future to be ruined forever and ever, so I came back to change it before it was too late!" She puts the box on the ground in front of Rarity. "So... here it is. It's all fixed. Please forgive me?"
Rarity eyed her sister then opened the box. "Wait... what is this?"
Sweetie Belle grins. "Trust me. Sapphire Shores is gonna love it."
Back in the studio, Malibu watched, wanting to see if Sapphire will like the headdress. "Rarity, this isn't going to work out. You don't get to my level of success without learning to read the signs, and this situation has bad luck written all over it." Sapphire said, her voice sounding disappointed.
Rarity held up her hooves. "I promise you'll absolutely adore the headdress as soon as you see it." She used her magic to levitate it onto Sapphire Shores, which was a fancy feather one reminding Malibu of Egyptian clothing. "My, it is attractive, but..."
Sweetie points at the headdress. "look at the stitching real close."
Malibu observed Sapphire gazing into the mirror, seeing the dolphin image on it. "Well, I'll be. It's a dolphin! That's my lucky animal! They swim with me in my dreams!" She revealed, much to Malibu's surprise, but figured Luna had something to do with it by having the dolphins appear in the dream before.
Rarity blinked at her sister. "Wherever did you come up with the idea for a dolphin?" She breathed.
Sweetie Belle glanced over, spotting Malibu and Luna, Luna having appeared nearby him. "Oh, it just came to me. In a dream." She bowed to Luna as her and Malibu both bowed back, their dream therapy for the second CMC a success.
"I'm sorry I got jealous about those dresses. I know now that your were only trying to help." Sweetie Belle then apologized, ears flat. Rarity gives her a hug.
"Oh, Sweetie, I forgive you! But I never did get to see your play. Any chance I could catch an encore performance?"
Malibu's heart swelled when hearing Sweetie Belle's next words, happy to see the sisters bond again like the last time. "Uh, I don't think the play went all that good. To be honest, the costumes were the best part."
The two sisters hugged it out, Malibu glancing back at Luna, hugging his Aunt again, excited for what future events will bring, and a nagging thought on the back of his mind of when his key to the chest will be coming for him.
...
This had been pretty cool to write but now it is time for the Flim Flam bros to return in Applejack's Key Episode! I promise soon that Malibu's turn will happen soon, after episodes 22 or 23 maybe!